Inspiring Grace and Pendle Leisure Trust volunteers distribute food parcels

Volunteers from Inspiring Grace and staff from Pendle Leisure Trust are putting together food parcels in a bid to stop Pendle’s vulnerable residents going hungry.

Morrison’s in Nelson, Tesco in Burnley, Nelson and Colne College – but most of all, the general public – have donated much-needed food for those unable to shop for themselves.

Rashid Hussain, Project Manager for Inspiring Grace, is leading the campaign to make sure the people of Pendle have enough food.

He said: “We have been inundated with generous offers of help from the people of Pendle. Some of our supermarkets have donated essentials, such as cereals, bread, milk, pasta and toilet rolls, as well as a few luxuries, including crisps and boxes of chocolates. But 80 per cent of the donations of food and cash have come from the general public.

“It’s amazing how everyone is pulling together to help each other and we are now doing our best to make sure this food reaches the right people.”

People receiving the parcels include those who have contacted Pendle Community Support Hub, self-referrals, the elderly, social workers and representatives from the police, local health teams and Pendle Women’s Refuge ringing on behalf of clients.

Inspiring Grace has also introduced Community Street Champions – volunteers that can deliver food parcels to neighbours on their own street.

Rashid added: “We are looking for more helpers that can collect food parcels from us and deliver to streets near them. We have 30 people signed up already.”

If you would like to donate food, you can drop off non-perishables at The ACE Centre, Cross Street, Nelson, every Wednesday between 10.30am and 11.30am. If you would like to volunteer to be a Community Street Champion, call Rashid on 07788270413.